Riojasaurus

Riojasaurus incertis

Pronounced: ree - O - ha - Sore - us

Diet: Herbivore (Plant-Eater)

Name Means: "Rioja Lizard"

Length: 19 to 33 feet (6 m to 10 m)

Height: up to 10 feet (3 m)

Weight: up to 1500 pounds (700 kilos

Time: Late Triassic - 215 MYA

Fossil
remains for this
Dinosaur have
been found in
South America

Riojasaurus was one of the very earliest plant-eating
dinosaurs and was a member of the family of dinosaurs that
became the long-necked Sauropod . For such an early dinosaur,
scientists know a great deal about this animal as parts of more
than 20 different individuals have been found. It grew very
large for such an early dinosaur, as long as a school bus!

A large and heavily built prosauropod , Riojasaurus was first discovered in 1967. It exhibits characteristics that led to the evolution of the sauropods, including successively lengthening cervical vertebrae. Almost no cranial material has been found, but its neck suggests that it had a small skull.